NEW YORK — Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square unveiled an interactive exhibit in early February that lets visitors relive the excitement of a New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square 365 days a year.
The one-of-a-kind attraction is the only place in the world where visitors can touch and interact with the original ball from the 2007 centennial countdown, as well as the iconic Waterford Crystal podium used from the 2002 through 2014 countdowns.
Previously, only a select few high-profile individuals — including Lady Gaga, Christopher Reeve, Colin Powell and Muhammad Ali — have had the opportunity to ring in the New Year at the iconic podium.
The first New York City Ball Drop was introduced to Times Square revelers by the New York Times, on Dec. 31, 1907, and was constructed of iron and wood and adorned with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
For the Dec. 31, 2007, 100th anniversary, a centennial anniversary ball was designed by Waterford Crystal and the Philips Lighting Company featuring 9,576 state-of-the-art LED bulbs that can create a palette of more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns.
The new exhibit also features a display case of 18 Waterford Crystals from18 different countdowns.
The exhibit opening marks the first of many yearlong events lined up for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square 10-year anniversary.
